Summary That Sort of Bear starts with a conversation between Pooh and Hoff talking about “Ode to Joy”. The main points of this chapter is the value of ourselves, enjoying life, and how each one of us are special. Also, to be a happy person, one should respect oneself and be appreciative of who one is. It gives a strong point of the values of people, as in how useful and helpful we can be through different ways. The author put a story called, “The Stonecutter”, which is about no matter how useful we may be, sometimes we don’t recognize our value. It says if we learn to believe, we can accomplish valuable things, and even have the ability to take control of our lives. Things will work, if we believe in the power within ourselves. There were several examples given by the book. The first example was about a man who lost his daughter, business, and his reputation. He almost committed suicide, but decided to help others and work. He changed his life by changing his living patterns. He was able to contribute to humanity by deciding to help other people and believing in himself. The second example was about a boy who was expelled from school. After he got kicked out, he worked in a laboratory as an assistant, however he got kicked out again because he blew up the laboratory. However, the boy never gave up and became the genius inventor, Thomas Edison. This chapter gives another point that pessimistic people don’t clearly look at a situation and believe in their abilities. It gave an example of when Roo fell into the stream, Pooh, who was positive, saved him. Pooh thought about the situation and what he could do to save Roo, which helped him to save Roo. Also, when Piglet got trapped because of the flood, he started to think pessimistically, but he remembered a story about a man on a deserted island who threw a letter in bottle into the sea and getting rescued. He did the same thing, and finally got saved by Hoff and Pooh. In Taoism, the term, Tz’u, is very important since it means compassion and caring. Because of Tz’u, Roo and Piglet were saved and the North Pole was discovered.
Discussion Questions
1. We may be useful, but sometimes we don't recognize our own value. Why do you think sometimes we don't recognize or believe our own values?
2. Tz'u means caring and compassion, and from caring comes wisdom and courage. Do you agree with this? Without T'zu, will we not be able to have courage nor wisdom?
3. Many try to buy happiness and importance, but they can be happy and important without being materialistic. Do you agree with this, and do you think this is possible?
Thematic Analysis That Sort of Bear circumscribed its theme inside the boundaries of believing in oneself.
The most important thing mentioned in the chapter was how to uphold one's value and respect it. Plummeting one's value and doubting one's limits were against the topic of the chapter. Thus, having a positive mind and thinking that one can be a catalyst to change everything for a better was very crucial.
The chapter, as whole, was telling that nothing could be achieved or reached when one does not believe in oneself. To make difference, one had to believe in one's own power and not to depend on any other for help. There is "supposedly" more power sleeping inside one's body and it stays dormant until one realizes to trust in it and starts to use it. For example, the author says, "without his believing and taking a chance, his contributions to humanity would never have been made" (page 121).
Another important theme that was dealt in the story was the satisfaction and contentment. Pooh, in the chapter, buys lots of shoes but realizes that he could not be satisfied with just buying shoes. The story teaches how one can acquire the state of contentment only when it is fully influenced interiorly, not exteriorly. The stonecutter, that is mentioned in the chapter, also balances out with this idea. He was not satisfied with his role in life and tried to prosper by belong promoted to a higher position. However, he ends up becoming a stone. Thus, the author showed how satisfaction could only be achieved within oneself but not from outside influences.
In conclusion, the chapter talks about T'zu and how moving forward by having courage and knowledge is important; thus, considering to benefit others as well.
That Sort of Bear starts with a conversation between Pooh and Hoff talking about “Ode to Joy”. The main points of this chapter is the value of ourselves, enjoying life, and how each one of us are special. Also, to be a happy person, one should respect oneself and be appreciative of who one is. It gives a strong point of the values of people, as in how useful and helpful we can be through different ways. The author put a story called, “The Stonecutter”, which is about no matter how useful we may be, sometimes we don’t recognize our value. It says if we learn to believe, we can accomplish valuable things, and even have the ability to take control of our lives. Things will work, if we believe in the power within ourselves. There were several examples given by the book. The first example was about a man who lost his daughter, business, and his reputation. He almost committed suicide, but decided to help others and work. He changed his life by changing his living patterns. He was able to contribute to humanity by deciding to help other people and believing in himself. The second example was about a boy who was expelled from school. After he got kicked out, he worked in a laboratory as an assistant, however he got kicked out again because he blew up the laboratory. However, the boy never gave up and became the genius inventor, Thomas Edison. This chapter gives another point that pessimistic people don’t clearly look at a situation and believe in their abilities. It gave an example of when Roo fell into the stream, Pooh, who was positive, saved him. Pooh thought about the situation and what he could do to save Roo, which helped him to save Roo. Also, when Piglet got trapped because of the flood, he started to think pessimistically, but he remembered a story about a man on a deserted island who threw a letter in bottle into the sea and getting rescued. He did the same thing, and finally got saved by Hoff and Pooh. In Taoism, the term, Tz’u, is very important since it means compassion and caring. Because of Tz’u, Roo and Piglet were saved and the North Pole was discovered.
Discussion Questions
1. We may be useful, but sometimes we don't recognize our own value. Why do you think sometimes we don't recognize or believe our own values?
2. Tz'u means caring and compassion, and from caring comes wisdom and courage. Do you agree with this? Without T'zu, will we not be able to have courage nor wisdom?
3. Many try to buy happiness and importance, but they can be happy and important without being materialistic. Do you agree with this, and do you think this is possible?
Thematic Analysis
That Sort of Bear circumscribed its theme inside the boundaries of believing in oneself.
The most important thing mentioned in the chapter was how to uphold one's value and respect it. Plummeting one's value and doubting one's limits were against the topic of the chapter. Thus, having a positive mind and thinking that one can be a catalyst to change everything for a better was very crucial.
The chapter, as whole, was telling that nothing could be achieved or reached when one does not believe in oneself. To make difference, one had to believe in one's own power and not to depend on any other for help. There is "supposedly" more power sleeping inside one's body and it stays dormant until one realizes to trust in it and starts to use it. For example, the author says, "without his believing and taking a chance, his contributions to humanity would never have been made" (page 121).
Another important theme that was dealt in the story was the satisfaction and contentment. Pooh, in the chapter, buys lots of shoes but realizes that he could not be satisfied with just buying shoes. The story teaches how one can acquire the state of contentment only when it is fully influenced interiorly, not exteriorly. The stonecutter, that is mentioned in the chapter, also balances out with this idea. He was not satisfied with his role in life and tried to prosper by belong promoted to a higher position. However, he ends up becoming a stone. Thus, the author showed how satisfaction could only be achieved within oneself but not from outside influences.
In conclusion, the chapter talks about T'zu and how moving forward by having courage and knowledge is important; thus, considering to benefit others as well.